Windmill



Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,883 y F. i?. POTTS Dec. 7 'QZL l,609,883

F. R., PT-'n A.

WMDMILLl Filed Sept.y l0, 1925 5 Sheets-Shea?. 3

gm; muur f' M fie Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES FISHER R. POTTS, OF

BOLCKOW', MISSOURI.

XVINDMILL.

Applicationy filed September This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in electric current generating devices, and particularly towindwheel devices for this purpose.

One object of the invention is to provide a. windwheel device whichincludes novel and automatic means for shifting the blades or cups ofthe wheel, to regulate the speed of the wheel.

Another object is to provide a braking device by means of which thewindwheel may be held against movement, and the vanes or cups of thewheel feathered out of the wind, simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a braking device which operates initiallyto feather the vanes, and subsequently to stop the rotation of thewheel.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the windwheel, and the mechanism associatedtherewith. partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the wheel.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional `view on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5h55 of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents atower, having the intermediate platform l1, provided with the opening12, through which is disposed the vertical power shaft 13. Disposedvertically above the opening 12 is a tubular member 14. secured at itslower end to the platform by the braces 15. and having the trunnions 16extending from the diametrically opposite sides. The upper end of thetubular member 14 is slightly reduced in diameter, as shown at 17, andformed on the exterior face of this reduced end, and eX- tendinglongitudinally thereof. are the regularly spaced ribs 18. Disposed onthe reduced end 17, and having grooves 1.9 to receive said ribs, is acollar 20, the lower end of which is formed with a circumferentiallyextending horizontal flange 21. Encircling the collar, a short distanceabove the flange 21, is a ring 22, which has the 10, 1925. Serial N0.55.537.

diametrically opposite pins 23, to which reference will be made laterherein. The upper portion of the power shaft 13 extends upwardly throughthe tubular member 14, and above the upper end thereof, where it isformed angulaiin cross section to be received in a correspondinglyformed opening in the center of the frame 24,y of the windwheel, a nut25 being threaded on the end of the shaft above the frame, to hold thewheel tightly thereon. The upper end face of the reduced portion 17 isformed with one portion of a ball race 26, which cooperates with asimilar portion 27. in the lower face of the depending ring 28, formedon the lower side of the frame of the wheel. a series of bearing balls29 being` disposed within said race portions. Formed on the lower sideof the frame of the wheel, in concentric relation to, and outwardly ofthe ring 2S, second ring portion 30, the lower face of which is providedwith a friction face 31, against which the upper face of the collar 20is adapted to bear frictionally, to hold the wheel against rotation,upc-n upward movement of said collar. Pirotally supported on thetrunnions 1G. are the levers 32, each pivotally connected by a link 32to a disk 14 on the tuhe 14, while the other ends are connected with anonerat-ing cable 33, through the medium of a bent link 33', said cablebeing wound on the (lrum 34` at the bottom of the tower.

Rotatably supported in the frame 24, and radiating therefrom. are therock arms or rods 35, to the outer end of each of which is properlysecured a vane or cup 36. In the upper face of the frame 24 there areformed a series of recesses 37. through whicl the inner end portions ofthe rods 35 pass, and fixed on these portions of the rods are theretaining collars 38, which prevent outward sliding movement of therods, and too great rotation thereby of the vanes 36. On each of therods 35. outwardly of the periphery of the frame, is adjustably secureda radial arm 39. and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to theouter end of this arm. and to the pin 23, of the ring 22, is a link 40,by means of which vertical movement of the ring is transmitted to thearm to rock the shaft for the purpose of turning the cups into or out ofthe wind. Pivotally supported on the upper side of the frame 24, at twodiametrically opposite lill? again st rotation.

points, are the angle levers al, each of which has a we ted ball sil-2,on its vertical arm, while a comparatively strong spring t3 is connectedto, and extends between the said vertical arms, to normally maintain thelevers in upright position. rifhc other arm of each of the angle leversll is formed with a slot 44 through which the upper end of a rod aextends. and is provided with a head on the upper end thereof, the lowerend of said rod being,` pivotally connected with a pin 23, of the ring22. Encircling the tube ll, between the collar 2O and the ring` 14, is acoil spring lo', which supports the collar in pro 3er spaced relation tothe friction face 3l, and is adapted to be compressed, upon upwardmovement of the dish lil, to move the (ollar upwardly against thefriction face 3l, whereby to hold the frame 2t Further upward movementof the collar 2O engages its flange 2l with the ring` 22, and moves:said ring` upwardly, with the` result that the rods will be rocl-redandthe cups 36 turned out of the wind. At the sani-e time the rods rise andslide through the slots of the angle levers 42.

rllhe lower end of t-he power shaft 18 is provided with a gear t? whichdrives a system of `gears 48, operatively connected with an electricgenerator 49.

As the wind blows against vthe cups 36, the frame Q4 will be rotated,together with the shaft l, with the result that the gear train willdrive the generator lr-9, to supply electric current. 1Upon the frame orwheel attaining a high speed, the balls of the levers il will cause saidlevers to swing` outwardly causing` the horizontal arms thereof to exerta lifting action on the ring; 2Q, through the medium of` 'the rods 415,with the result that the links -lO will roch the rods 35 to acoii'unensurate degree to turn the cups partly out of the wind, andthereby diminish the speed of the wheel, until the wind velocity hasdecreased to a suficientextent to pern'iit the spring; 43 to draw thelovers #".Ll into normal upright position, and permit the ring' 22 tofall and roel; the rods 35.

' it is desired to stop the wheel, tne A, j actuates tl-e handle. i armswhereby the collar pushed upward by the spring;l 46, against the face3l. rlhis also moves the ring 22 and actuates the rods i-5 and links l0to rock the rods 35, and turn the cups out of the wind.

Connected to the set screw of eacn of the collars 38 is one end of aspring 50, the other end of said spring being secured to the frame ofthe wheel, as shown, whereby to normally and yieldably maintain the rodsor shafts in proper position, and to impart an initial rotary movementto the rods when being thrown into gear.

lWhat is claimed is l. l wind motor including a support, a wheel on thesupport, roch shafts on the wheel, wind devices on the shafts, aAbraking` surface on the wheel, a brakingelement on .the support foroperative engagement with the' braking surface, means forA moving thebraking' elementinto engagement with the said surface, and meansoperable by the braking element for rocking the shafts. f

2. A. wind motor including a wheel, a vertical support for the wheel,radially extending rock shafts on the wheel having wind cups on theirends, radial arms on the rock shafts, a braking member slidable on thesupport toward and away from the wheel, a ring encircling the brakingmember and movable thereby, and links connected to the ring andsaidn'adial arms whereby upon in vement of the ring by the-braking'meinber said shafts will be rocked. V

,3. A wind motor including a wheel, radiallyvv extending rock shafts onthe wheel having'wind cups on theirends. radiall arms on the rockshafts, a suppor,t,a collar slidable on the support toward and away fromythe wheel, a ,ring encircling the collar and movable by tlie latter,inks connected with said arms and ring, and means for movingthe saidcollar. l

A wind motor including a wheel, radially extending rock shafts on thewheel having' terminal wind cups, radial arms on vthe rock shafts, atubular support, a collar slidble on the support toward and away fromthe wheell for frictional engi-virement therewith, a rlngr encircling;the collar:ind-being ino-vahle thereby, linlts connceteifl to the siriusand 3 '-l adler on the support on the supp governor means connecte andmoving` `.inony whereof, l. anni my signature.

